Stronghold Teaser

So I've finally got a new outline for Angel and Adam... we'll see whether or not they'll let me stick with this one LOL.  It fits where they are at the moment, but they're good at going off-script.  Anyway... I think that I really am about halfway through the book which means that I'm right on schedule for a fall release, which is good.  YAY!

For Marriage Training - I submitted the next chapter of that (Vivian and the Earl finally meeting!) on Thursday evening so that should be out sometime next week =)

And, here's a teaser for Stronghold!!!!:

The desk that Master Patrick sat down at was huge, it made her feel like a dwarf by comparison.  A man smaller than him would have looked overwhelmed by it, but it suited him perfectly.  

"Have a seat, Angie," he said, and even though he was using the pseudonym she'd chosen rather than her real name she felt the immediate need to obey.

Yeah, no mistaking this man for anything other than "in charge."  The authoritarian tone of voice had her moving before she even thought about it, to one of the cushy black leather chairs in front of the desk.  It was incredibly comfortable.  The kind of chair that she'd like to curl up and wallow in, read a book on a rainy day... it would have worked just as well in front of a fire as it did in this office.  

But with the scary man behind the desk, his hard gaze fixed on her, she couldn't relax.  Instead she shifted her weight, taking tiny peeks at him because for some reason she couldn't bring herself to directly meet his eyes for more than a moment or two.  She'd managed it at Chained, but they hadn't known she was submissive.  It had been easier there.  No doubts welling up in her mind, no second thoughts about what she was about to do.  

"Did you read over the contract that I sent you?"

"Yes Sir."  About fifty times.  It had included all the rules and regulations that governed Stronghold.  

"Good girl."  

Something inside of Angel warmed as he reached into his desk and pulled out a stapled stack of papers.  Yeah, she wasn't attracted to Patrick, even though she could acknowledge that he was extremely attractive, but she still liked being called a good girl by him.  There was just something about it that satisfied a need deep inside of her and made her feel all happy and glow-y.  

"This is the same thing, in paper form.  You can look it over if you want.  And then you need to sign it."  He glanced at the clock.  "Your Dom for the evening should be here any minute."

She felt a little awkward looking over it in front of him, because part of her said to trust his word, but the more cynical part of her that taught self-defense said always be sure.  So she skimmed it, familiar enough with the sentences by now to know that they were identical to the one that he'd sent her online.  Even though she couldn't read as fast as Leigh, she was pretty fast skimming, which cut down on the length of time that she was looking it over. 

As she picked up a pen, Patrick's phone rang.  

"Hello?..."  There was a long pause.  "Shit.  Alright, I'll be right down."

Putting down the phone with enough force that Angel jumped (okay, so she might be a little bit jittery considering that she'd just signed a release to have all sorts of dirty and debauched things done to her), Patrick sighed and gave her a reassuring sort of smile.  It warmed his face and enabled her to meet his eyes.  

"I have a situation I have to see to... I don't want to have to leave you here alone though.  Hold on a moment."  Getting up, he went back to the door that they'd come in from, the one that connected to the lobby.  Angel clasped her hands together.  A situation?  What did that mean?  Was it a sub that had gotten hurt?  Someone's scene gotten out of control?  Why would the owner of the club be needed if unless it something bad?

As her panic started to well, Patrick stuck his head out of the door.  "Jared.... oh hey, good you're here.  Never mind, Jared."  He shifted so that more of his body was out of the door, his voice still loud enough that she could hear every word he said.  "I've got a situation downstairs... Tom offered Ellie a club contract last week but she refused."

"Of course she did," another deep male voice said.  "Ellie never signs club contracts."

"Yeah but she's been scening with him a lot lately, I think he got his hopes up."

A derisive snort. 

"Anyway, she turned him down for a scene tonight and accepted an offer from Will, so now I've got to get downstairs because Tom's throwing a hissy fit, Ellie is making it worse by ignoring him, and Will is pissed."

"As he should be if Tom's interfering with a scene over a sub that he has no claim to."

"Yes, thank you for telling me what I already know."  Master Patrick's voice was dry, but she could tell that he respected whoever he was talking to.  He was sarcastic but not derogatory.  "Anyway, Angie's in here, so you can chat with her before choosing a room for the scene.  Interrogation, jail and school are all open."

"Okay, thanks."

Then Master Patrick was moving away and another man was entering.  Angel was starting to stand, feeling that she should get up and introduce herself, but as soon as she caught his crystal blue gaze her knees and lungs locked up and she found herself sinking back into the chair.

Very tall, very attractive, with very blue eyes, blonde hair and a goatee... and he looked more than grouchy as recognition flashed across his face.  

He looked downright pissed.